The latest news related to the meaningful and effective implementation of educational technology and e-learning in K-12, higher education, corporate and government sectors.
Watch this video to learn more about the fully online, accelerated, project-based Master of Education in Educational Technology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. For more information, visit: https://www.utrgv.edu/edtech/index.htm
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
This 30-hour accelerated program designed to prepare persons in K-12, higher education, corporate, and military settings to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for the classrooms and boardrooms of tomorrow. Students in this program have the opportunity to earn one or more graduate certificates in E-Learning, Technology Leadership, and Online Instructional Design.
This is a fantastic program! Its practical, real-world based and applicable to many areas of industry where teaching and learning, training and development are used.
Explore how educators can prepare students for likely, possible, and unknowable futures. Discover strategies for relevance, adaptability, and resilience in higher education.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"What if the problem isn’t higher education itself, but how we’ve framed its value and how we’ve taught? What if this moment is less an ending and more a beginning?"
"Four years after Anthology Inc. acquired Blackboard as part of its plan to become 'the most comprehensive ed-tech ecosystem,' the company is bankrupt and selling many of its parts. After years of chasing growth through mergers and acquisitions, the education-technology behemoth Anthology Inc. has more than $1 billion in debt and declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
“Anthology’s bankruptcy reflects the financial and operational strain created when education technology companies scale primarily through acquisition rather than disciplined product and engineering strategy”
Officials should carefully consider if an AI tool can actually address a problem — and then perform audits and error checks after it’s rolled out, experts said.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
“If you’re using a general AI model or AI tool for an unintended purpose, your result is going to be poor.”
This article explores the role of eLearning as a backbone to building workforce capability and ensuring operational success.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"eLearning will not create high performers by itself. But it is the most scalable lever we have to close capability gaps if you commit to using it strategically."
"The digital workforce is happening. Here’s what it may look like when humans are working side by side with AI agents—and how to prepare now for this surprisingly near-term eventuality."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Your AI agents could now be the evolution and the creation of a digital replica of the entire workforce of an organization"
"When data is placed in the hands of learners — proof and context they can use — we create the conditions for trajectory-changing experiences. This context-aware, AI-enabled and personalized marketplace of experiences is emergent in our ecosystem. We call it TechEd."
Prompt-based video generation that's social and editable
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"OpenAI has released the Sora 2 AI video generation model and a new app to support it. The model offers advanced features, including synced audio and more accurate physics"
AI for social good isn’t optional. It’s a responsibility. And it starts with all of us—how we build, invest and lead with empathy.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI has its flaws. If we’re not intentional, it can reflect our worst biases. If we don’t integrate it wisely, it can exclude and harm. That’s why we must keep people—real people—at the heart of the conversation."
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Rene Corbeil – Championing Innovation in Education Technology at UTRGV 🎓
We’re proud to introduce Dr. Rene Corbeil, Ed.D., Professor in the College of Education and Program Coordinator for the Educational Technology Program at UTRGV. A lifelong tech enthusiast, Dr. Corbeil’s journey from middle school computer literacy teacher to leading one of the most recognized EdTech programs in the country is nothing short of inspiring.
Dr. Corbeil is not only a product of the EdTech program—he was actively involved in helping it become one of the first fully online master’s degrees in the UT System, setting a precedent for digital learning across Texas. Today, it’s recognized as a top-tier online program, even earning a #1 ranking in a recent AI-generated search.
What sets Dr. Corbeil apart is his commitment to quality, relevance, and impact. The program’s project-based curriculum is empowering students from wide-ranging industries—education, healthcare, law, government—to solve real-world challenges in their workplaces. Many students report promotions or new job opportunities before even graduating.
Dr. Corbeil’s work goes beyond instructional design. He emphasizes learning experience design, crafting courses that spark curiosity and engagement. His recent co-authored book, Teaching and Learning in the Age of Generative AI, reflects his forward-thinking approach to integrating emerging technologies responsibly and ethically.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, graduates of the program became the digital first responders in their districts, helping schools transition online swiftly and effectively. That legacy continues today as Dr. Corbeil prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving educational landscape shaped by the rise of AI.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Corbeil’s contributions to UTRGV and the broader field of educational technology. His work exemplifies the transformative power of innovation, passion, and purpose.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story and to highlight the incredible work happening in our Educational Technology program at UTRGV. Our mission is to prepare innovative educators and leaders who are ready to thrive in today’s AI-driven, tech-rich learning environments.
A big thank you to the Office of Faculty Affairs for showcasing our program and helping us spread the word about the transformative impact of Educational Technology.
"The coming revolution may make the internet of today look clunky and dumb."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"An intelligent UX and agents might play key roles in the websites of the future, or at least in the first phase of AI influencing how we access information online. From there, it could evolve to types of interaction that are hard to imagine right now."
Thoughtful AI integration in eLearning enhances outcomes by addressing real learner challenges with purposeful, targeted solutions.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI is powerful, but like any tool, its impact depends on how well it is aligned with specific learning goals. Too many organizations fall into the trap of chasing buzzwords, launching flashy pilots that never address real needs."
Michael O. Emerson sits down with Amy Dittmar, Jeff Morgan, and Burke Nixon on the “Baker Briefing“ podcast to discuss the advent of artificial intelligence and its implications for higher education, from students’ intellectual development to the early graduate labor market.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"I don’t think [artificial intelligence] is going to be able to prevent students from thinking critically. That’s still going to be our job in the classroom. And it’s not like we had a golden age of American critical thinking for the last 200 years and now suddenly it’s stopping. Critical thinking is always a hard thing to teach and to learn."
To help students understand and use AI tools, teachers need professional development that supports them in redesigning tried-and-true assignments with an eye to teaching critical thinking.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Teaching AI transparency means equipping students to think critically about the systems shaping their digital world and how to use these systems responsibly and ethically."
Nonhuman identities (NHIs), including artificial intelligence agents and APIs, pose a cybersecurity risk in education environments due to extensive and often-overlooked access permissions.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Nonhuman identities, also known as machine identities, include any application, software component, automated process, machine or network resource that has permission to access data and execute tasks without any human intervention."
In an earlier post, I asked if AI is making humans “cognitively lazy.” The answer, I argued, is not really.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI promises efficiency, scale, and predictive precision. And there are real gains being realized. Yet many organizations have traded understanding for output."
Rising educator confidence in CTE and growing urgency for AI tools that build--not bypass--students’ essential skills.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Educators are embracing AI and career and technical education (CTE) as keys to preparing students for their future after high school, according to the 2025 Savvas Educator Index from K-12 learning solutions provider Savvas Learning Company."
AI magnifies how well (or poorly) you already operate. The 2025 DORA report reveals seven practices that separate high-performing teams from struggling ones.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Eighty percent of programmers reported an overall increase in productivity, but only 59% reported that their code quality improved. Another key metric is this: 70% of respondents trust the AI's quality, while 30% don't."
"How AI redefines user interfaces, and why the chat box gets it wrong"
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI interfaces are shifting fast: from chat to voice, from canvases to agent-driven cross-tool spaces. As models converge in capability, the real differentiation has moved to the interface layer. The interface is no longer just a channel. It is the key that unlocks technology, translating complexity into affordances and shaping the flow of human attention."
"AI has renewed debate about learning, memory, and creativity in an age of cognitive offloading. Cognitive offloading means using tools to do mental work we could do ourselves. Many ask if students who use AI to draft essays, solve problems, or recall facts will stop building core skills."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"[O]ver-reliance can reduce engagement and skill growth, but thoughtful use can personalize learning, reduce unhelpful load, and support creativity."
Workers younger than 50 and workers with a bachelor’s degree or more education are among the most likely to use AI in their job.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"21% of U.S. workers say at least some of their work is done with AI, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in September. That share is up from 16% roughly a year ago."
The online learning platform Udemy has seen a fivefold increase in AI-related enrollments this year, but some experts warn against falling for hype that frames AI as a quick fix for issues in education and the workforce.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Nearly half of talent development leaders surveyed in LinkedIn’s 2025 Workplace Learning Report say they see a skills crisis, with organizations under pressure to equip employees for both present and future roles through dynamic skill-building, particularly in AI and generative AI."
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"As generative AI tools gain traction in workplaces, universities have a responsibility to prepare students for an AI-driven future."